Work with your child on filling out the FAFSA form.

Make sure your child’s personal information is safe when they apply for financial aid.

Create your own StudentAid.gov account.

Use the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s financial path to graduation tool to determine each school’s net price—your child’s actual out-of-pocket cost.

Read IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education to see how you might benefit from federal income tax credits for education expenses.

Make informed decisions about student loans. “Loans” and “Federal Versus Private Loans” are important resources at this point.

Help your child learn about the responsibilities involved in accepting a student loan by reviewing “Considerations When Taking Out Federal Student Loans” with them.

With your child, look at communications from schools to which your child sent FAFSA information.